Snakes and spiders in Erath County, Texas
Erath County, home of Stephenville, has 12 snake and 17 spider species on record, from 107 licensed snake and 412 spider records. Venomous species here: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the broad-banded copperhead and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Erath County?
Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 4 licensed records, 0% of all Texas records of it. The broad-banded copperhead: on record, no openly licensed records to count. The western black widow: 1 licensed record, 1% of all Texas records of it.
What snakes are in Erath County?
In all, 12 snake species are on the Erath County list. The most recorded are Sonora taylori (17), the rough earthsnake (12) and the western ribbon snake (11).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonora taylori | 17 | 17% |
| 2 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 12 | 1% |
| 3 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 11 | 0% |
| 4 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 9 | 0% |
| 5 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 9 | 1% |
| 6 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 7 | 1% |
| 7 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 5 | 0% |
| 8 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 4 | 0% |
| 9 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 4 | 0% |
| 10 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 4 | 0% |
| 11 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 1 | 1% |
| 12 | Broad-banded copperhead venomous Agkistrodon laticinctus | — | — |
When are snakes out in Erath County?
Observation records of snakes in Erath County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 29% of them; across Texas the peak is April.
What spiders are in Erath County?
In all, 17 spider species are on the Erath County list. The most recorded are Hogna antelucana (118), the lance wolf spider (36) and Trochosa sepulchralis (19).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hogna antelucana | 118 | 15% |
| 2 | Lance wolf spider Schizocosa avida | 36 | 24% |
| 3 | Trochosa sepulchralis | 19 | 22% |
| 4 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 16 | 25% |
| 5 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 14 | 1% |
| 6 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 12 | 8% |
| 7 | Varacosa shenandoa | 12 | 22% |
| 8 | Hammerjawed jumper Zygoballus rufipes | 10 | 11% |
| 9 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 8 | 1% |
| 10 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 8 | 1% |
| 11 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 6 | 0% |
| 12 | Carolina jumping spider Phidippus carolinensis | 5 | 3% |
| 13 | Phidippus texanus | 4 | 3% |
| 14 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 0% |
| 15 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 2 | 0% |
| 16 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 2 | 0% |
| 17 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 1 | 1% |
When are spiders out in Erath County?
Observation records of spiders in Erath County run through most of the year, peaking in July with 16% of them; across Texas the peak is April.
What stands out in Erath County
Species for which Erath County holds a large share of all Texas records: the brilliant jumping spider, 25% (16 of 64); the lance wolf spider, 24% (36 of 150); Trochosa sepulchralis, 22% (19 of 86); Varacosa shenandoa, 22% (12 of 55); Sonora taylori, 17% (17 of 98).
Common in Texas, not on the Erath County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the western ground snake (1,963 statewide), the checkered garter snake (1,851 statewide), the gopher snake (1,440 statewide) and the eastern copperhead (1,188 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the spiny-backed orbweaver (751 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (669 statewide), the striped lynx spider (579 statewide), the familiar jumping spider (518 statewide) and Cicurina varians (514 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Erath County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the diamondback water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider.
Erath County among Texas counties
By licensed snake records Erath County ranks 103rd of 254 Texas counties with any.
Other Texas counties with their own page: Travis County, Brewster County, Harris County, Brazos County, El Paso County, Jeff Davis County, Val Verde County and Bexar County.
The whole state: venomous species in Texas, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.